to4 paau3陀炮
Jyutpingto4 paau3
Yaletòh paau
Definition
To carry a gun, to be armed, or to serve as a police officer.
- slangto carry a gun; to be armed
- slangto work as a police officer
colloquialworkslang
How it's used
Originally referring to the literal act of carrying a firearm, this term has evolved into a common slang for being a police officer. It carries a slightly gritty or informal tone, often used when talking about the profession in a casual setting rather than a formal one. It is specifically tied to the police force and would not be used for security guards or other armed personnel.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to carry a gun to work
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe carrying any weapon, as it is specifically associated with the police and their service weapons. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in professional or official contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
